St. Simons Food & Spirits Festival Cocktail Primer, Part 2; Bitters
Bitters play a leading role in giving a number of classic cocktails a distinctive twist. A well- crafted cocktail requires a balance of flavors; bitters provide the elusive depth missing in most drinks. Bitters are made from alcohol infused with aromatic plant extracts, getting their flavors from herbs, fruits, roots and spices. Bitters are dispensed by the drop or dash, a tiny splash goes a long way.
Bitters have a storied tradition-they were originally concocted as medicinal tonics to treat stomach maladies including seasickness. They found their way into cocktails and in recent years have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity.
For a well-stocked bar, Saint Simons Food and Spirits Festival recommends you keep Angostura, Peychaud’s, and Fee Brothers Orange bitters on hand. Most bitters are about 45% alcohol but since they are considered non-potable, are sold in grocery stores.
Here are some classic and contemporary cocktail creations using Four Roses Bourbon, Square One Vodka, and Junior Johnson’s Midnight.
The St . Simons Sling
(Recipe courtesy of master mixologist Jackson Holland)
Ingredients
2 oz. Four Roses Bourbon
Splash ginger simple syrup
3 dashes orange bitters
Splash seltzer water
2” x 1 1/2” strip orange peel
Method
In a rocks glass, stir Four Roses bourbon, simple syrup, and bitters to combine. Fill with ice, top with seltzer water and give it a final stir. Garnish with a flamed orange peel.
BITTER SWEET
Here are some additional delicious seasonal crossover cocktails using bitters that combine Four Roses Bourbon with Square One Botanical (a vodka made to be mixed) in the Fall Snap, and with Junior Johnson’s Midnight Moon Apple Pie moonshine in a Junior’s Old Fashioned.
Fall Snap
Ingredients
1/2 oz. Four Roses Single Barrel
1 1/2 oz. Square One Botanical
1/4 oz. St. Elizabeth All-spice Dram or bitters with heavy brown spice
1/4 oz. dark agave syrup
Method
Stir with ice for 30 – 45 seconds. Serve with a pear slice.
Junior’s Old Fashioned
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz. Junior Johnson Midnight Moon Apple Pie
1 1/2 oz. Four Roses Yellow label
Dashes of Boker’s bitters
Method
Stir and strain up or on the rocks. Garnish with a slice of orange.
For more cocktail recipes, visit fourrosesbourbon.com, squareoneorganicspirits.com and juniorsmidnightmoon.com.
